In his first game as New York’s head coach, Brian Daboll ordered up a 2-point conversion play in the fourth quarter that led to the Giants‘ 21-20 victory over the Tennessee Titans on Sunday.
NASHVILLE — Brian Daboll didn’t think twice about whether his New York Giants should go for the 2-point conversion or kick the tying extra point with 1:06 remaining in his first game ever as a head coach. He was always going with the aggressive approach.
Daboll indeed went for two, which the Giants converted on a shovel pass to running back Saquon Barkley, to upset the Tennessee Titans 21-20 at Nissan Stadium. It was New York’s first Week 1 win since 2016, which also happens to be the last time they made the playoffs.
Why didn’t Daboll flinch when faced with the vital decision late in Sunday’s season opener?
„Go for the win,“ he said. „We’re going to be aggressive. That is what we want to do. That is the mindset I want the players to have. If it didn’t work, I can live with it. I thought that was the right decision.“
Daboll even went up to some of the defensive players on the bench during the game-winning drive and asked their opinion.
„I said, ‚Hey … if we score I’m going for two. You good with that? They said ‚heck yeah!'“
The Giants players were completely on board, even though there was still a minute remaining and the Titans had time to drive down the field and win the game. They did but Tennessee kicker Randy Bullock missed a 47-yard field goal as time expired.
„When we scored, I was on the field and I saw him put up the two sign and we kind of made eye contact. He gave me that look, and I knew what the play was going to be,“ Barkley said. „He gave me that look and I kind of looked back at him and said, ‚F— yeah.‘
„We called it up and we were able to execute the play and get in.
